Many rural people, and those living in a semi-urban situation, had to find their fuel from coal, paraffin, and especially timber.

The four-cylinder engine could develop 30 h.p. using paraffin as fuel, no doubt more on petrol, then not as easily available.

As renewable sources of fuel, such as wood become scarce it is important for any society to make the transition to mass-produced fuels such as coal or paraffin, and then later shift to electricity or gas.

Origin

This word first appeared in 1830 in German, coined by the chemist Karl Reichenbach from the Latin parum ‘little’ and affinis ‘related’ (also the source of affinity (Middle English)) because of its low chemical reactivity. It was in use in English within five years.